Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner (90) is shown during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
Published Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022 | 9:11 a.m.
Updated Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022 | 12:49 p.m.
Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner is set to undergo hip surgery that is expected to sideline him for the entire 2022-23 season, the team announced today.
Lehner had shoulder surgery at the tail-end of last season and missed the final three games. General manager Kelly McCrimmon said in July that Lehner was set to return to Las Vegas at the end of the month to have team doctors continue to evaluate him.
It's unclear if this injury is in relation to the lower-body injury that forced Lehner to miss an east-coast road trip in early March. That was reportedly a fractured kneecap, but it was never confirmed. Lehner started in Philadelphia on March 8, but left prior to the Golden Knights facing the Buffalo Sabres two days later.
He was out until April 3, with Logan Thompson starting the majority of that month's-long worth of games. Lehner went 2-2-1 in the five starts since returning and allowed 16 goals. The next start, against the Washington Capitals on April 20, saw him play the first period but pulled in favor of Logan Thompson after allowing a goal.
Despite reports that Lehner was set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, he was the backup four days later on April 24 against San Jose.
Lehner, who was set to enter the third year of a five-year, $25 million extension signed in October 2020, went 23-17-2 with a 2.83 goals-against average in his first season as Vegas' full-time starter.
Training camp is set to open Sept. 21 and, as of now, the Golden Knights are expected to enter the year with a goalie tandem of Logan Thompson, Laurent Brossoit and Michael Hutchinson. Brossoit's status is up in the air after undergoing offseason hip surgery of his own. McCrimmon said the timetables for Brossoit and Lehner to return for the season opener Oct. 11 in Los Angeles would be "tight."
Lehner would likely go on long-term injured reserve, freeing up $5 million in salary cap relief. That number would be expected to go toward signing Vegas' two remaining restricted free agents, defenseman Nic Hague and forward Jake Leschyshyn.
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
